By Robert Olsen, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Christian Studies, University of Mobile
TRUST
Acts 27:31–44
Call to Trust (31–34)
By his own choice Paul was going to be taken to Rome to stand trial. Under Roman law he had a right to go to Rome for his trial, and so he had appealed to Caesar. While traveling, a storm hit that ultimately lasted 14 days, threatening the well-being of the ship and its cargo.
Paul had received a visit from an angel telling him that he would indeed make it to Rome to stand trial before Caesar. Paul communicated the message to the centurion in charge that if all the men on board stayed together on the boat, they would all survive. As they neared land Paul encouraged the men to eat something. He prayed to God, giving thanks for the food.
Paul had confidence because of his faith in God and was able to take command of the situation, giving instructions and details. With no better information and fearing for their lives, the men listened to Paul. With no objective grounding to anchor reality, people today have decided to make up their own reality, and this leads to chaos and pain.
Christians have answers for all of these problems and as such, we need to be vocal about the problems in the culture and how the gospel answers these problems. Even if this leads to persecution, being persecuted for righteousness’ sake is worthwhile and can often lead to belief in the gospel. (See Matt. 5:11–12.)
Act in Faith (35–38)
In an attempt to keep from shipwreck, the men threw over the supplies and even their grain. Paul was not worried because he had confidence that God would do what He had promised.
While most of us today have not seen an angel of the Lord nor had a message as clear as the one the angel gave Paul, we do have God’s Word and in it, God encourages us with promises and tells us how to live and act in the midst of our circumstances.
We are promised eternal life through belief and trust in the atoning sacrifice of Christ through His death, burial and resurrection. With this assurance we should be able to face whatever trials come our way, and we should have an attitude that glorifies God in the process. God uses our circumstances — both good and bad — for His glory and for our good (Rom. 8:28).
Persistent Trust (39–44)
When the ship finally wrecked, the men swam to shore or floated in on pieces of the boat and everyone survived, just as Paul had told them.
God was true to His word, as He is today. Knowing that God uses our circumstances for our good and His glory, we should not complain about our situations but understand that God is fulfilling His plan through them.
Nothing befalls us outside of God’s knowledge and if we trust His promises, we know that our present sufferings are preparing for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all (2 Cor. 4:17).
We need to prepare ourselves in calm times so that we can weather the difficult times. The best way to do this is to read the Bible, know what it says, be in prayer to help us focus on God and be involved with our churches so we can be built up and build others up in Christ.
Doing these things will help us to see God’s hand in both our good times and trials.
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